Summary Under the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), Romania, like all EU Member States, is required to establish Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI (Article 5). These centres would build upon existing European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) to help SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies adopt cloud and AI technologies. Their primary role would be to connect organisations with European providers, facilitate upskilling, and serve as the operational entry points for Romania's national cloud and AI strategy (Article 7).

Detail

The proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), COM(2026) 502 final, introduces a structured framework to strengthen Europe's cloud and AI ecosystem. A central pillar of this strategy is the creation of a network of support structures known as Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI (hereafter "Centres for AI"). For Romania, these centres would represent a critical mechanism for translating EU-level strategic goals into local, actionable support for businesses and public authorities, ensuring the country can meet its digital transformation targets.

The Legal Basis: Article 5 of CADA

Article 5 of the CADA proposal mandates that each Member State, including Romania, "shall establish Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI". The regulation is explicit about the foundation of these new entities: they "shall build on the European digital innovation hubs established under Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/694 and, where applicable, any successor entities established under Union law."

This provision ensures that Romania does not need to create entirely new bureaucratic silos. Instead, the proposal requires the country to leverage, upgrade, and refocus its existing network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) to specifically target AI and cloud acceleration. This approach aims to maximise the utility of existing infrastructure while aligning with the broader EU objectives of the AI continent action plan.

The objectives of these Centres for AI are clearly defined in Article 5(2):

  1. Support Integration and Scaling: They must support the integration and scaling-up of AI use cases in strategic industrial and public sectors.
  2. Accelerate Adoption: They are tasked with accelerating the broad adoption of cloud and AI technologies at regional and local levels, notably for SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies. This adoption must be in line with the "AI first" principle, which encourages organisations to reflect on their business processes and consider the opportunities offered by AI.
  3. Leverage Infrastructure: They must leverage relevant infrastructure to accelerate the development and fine-tuning of AI models and systems.

Core Tasks and Functions

Article 5(3) outlines the specific tasks these centres would perform. For Romanian public-sector procurement officers, business leaders, and innovators, these tasks represent the tangible benefits of the regulation:

  • Connecting with European Providers: The centres would help organisations accelerate their digital transformation by connecting them specifically with European providers of cloud and AI technologies. This aligns with CADA's broader goal of reducing dependence on third-country providers and fostering a sovereign European cloud ecosystem. By acting as a bridge, the centres would facilitate access to the "sovereign cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) offer" mentioned in Article 1(1)(c).
  • Upskilling and Reskilling: The centres must ensure or provide access to relevant upskilling and reskilling schemes. This would be done in close collaboration with the AI Skills Academy, ensuring that the workforce has the necessary competencies to use new technologies effectively. This directly supports the objective of developing a "common cloud and AI curriculum" under Article 4(8)(b).
  • Knowledge Transfer: They would facilitate the transfer of expertise across regions, ensuring that best practices from one part of Romania or the EU can be quickly adopted elsewhere. This addresses the risk of fragmentation and ensures a balanced deployment of capabilities.
  • Startup and Spin-off Support: The centres would support the scaling-up of spin-offs and start-ups emerging from universities and incubators by facilitating access to clients and organisations seeking specialised AI services. This supports the broader objective of fostering the start-up ecosystem and strengthening the Union's industrial base.

The National Network and EU Coordination

While each centre would operate within Romania, they would not work in isolation. Article 5(6) states that a "network of Centres for AI shall be established to support collaboration and the exchange of best practices among Centres for AI." This network would provide specialised services across regions where specific skills or compute capacity may not be available locally, ensuring that even remote areas in Romania can access high-level AI expertise.

Furthermore, the establishment of these centres is intrinsically linked to Romania's national strategy. Article 7 of CADA requires Member States to adopt national cloud and AI strategies within one year of the regulation's entry into force. These national strategies must include measures to accelerate the development and adoption of cloud and AI at national, regional, and local levels, particularly by "supporting the Centres for AI referred to in Article 5 as entry points to the European AI innovation ecosystem."

Therefore, the Centres for AI would serve as the operational arm of Romania's national strategy, turning high-level policy goals into on-the-ground support for SMEs and public bodies. The national strategy would also need to be consistent with the Digital Decade Policy Programme targets, including the adoption of cloud computing services by at least 75% of Union enterprises.

Governance and Implementation

The implementation of these initiatives would be entrusted to the Commission and Member States, potentially involving joint undertakings or other structures with appropriate expertise (Article 6). The Commission may adopt implementing acts to detail the procedure for establishing these centres, including selection criteria and participant organisation profiles.

However, the centres themselves would have "substantial overall autonomy as regards their organisation, composition and working methods," provided they comply with the objectives set out in the Regulation (Article 5(5)). This autonomy is designed to allow local adaptation while ensuring alignment with EU-wide goals. The Commission and Member States would cooperate with existing networks established under other Union initiatives, including those in the field of semiconductors and data, to ensure synergies.

What this means for you

For Romanian public-sector procurement officers, business leaders, and SMEs, the establishment of Experience and Acceleration Centres for AI presents significant opportunities and new responsibilities under the proposed CADA.

1. A New Resource for Procurement and Sovereignty As you navigate the new requirements of CADA, particularly the sovereignty framework and Union assurance levels, these centres would serve as a key resource. They would help you identify European providers who meet the necessary assurance levels (Union assurance levels 1-4) and can support your specific public order needs. Instead of searching the market alone, you could leverage the centre's network to find vetted, sovereign-compliant solutions, which is crucial for activities identified as contributing to the preservation of public order under Article 29.

2. Facilitating SME and SMC Participation CADA encourages the procurement of innovation, with Member States aspiring to award at least 25% of relevant cloud and AI procurement innovation procedures to SMEs (Article 33). The Centres for AI would play a vital role in preparing these smaller entities to meet the technical and sovereignty requirements of public tenders. By engaging with the centres, public bodies could help local SMEs and SMCs scale up, ensuring a more diverse and resilient supplier base for their departments.

3. Skills Development for Your Team The "AI first" principle requires your organisation to reflect on its processes and consider the opportunities offered by AI. The centres would provide upskilling and reskilling schemes. Procurement officers and technical staff should actively participate in these training programs to better understand the technical capabilities of AI systems, the implications of different Union assurance levels, and how to draft tender specifications that encourage innovation while maintaining security and sovereignty.

4. Alignment with National Strategy Your procurement decisions and digital transformation plans will be guided by Romania's national cloud and AI strategy. Since this strategy explicitly identifies the Centres for AI as entry points to the European AI innovation ecosystem, your engagement with these centres would demonstrate compliance with national policy objectives. Documenting your use of these centres in procurement planning can strengthen your case for adopting innovative, sovereign AI solutions and accessing potential EU funding.

Common misconceptions

Misconception 1: These are entirely new institutions. It is a common mistake to believe that Romania will build completely new administrative bodies. Article 5 clearly states that the Centres for AI "shall build on the European digital innovation hubs." They are an evolution and specialisation of existing structures, not a replacement. This ensures efficiency and avoids unnecessary duplication of effort.

Misconception 2: They only serve large corporations. While large enterprises will benefit, the regulation explicitly names SMEs, small mid-caps (SMCs), and public sector bodies as primary targets. The centres are designed to lower the barrier to entry for smaller organisations by providing access to expertise, testing facilities, and European providers that they might not otherwise reach.

Misconception 3: They are only about technical training. The role of the centres extends beyond technical upskilling. They are also commercial accelerators. By connecting organisations with European providers and facilitating access to clients for start-ups, they play a significant role in market shaping and supply chain development. This is crucial for procurement officers looking for sovereign alternatives to third-country providers.

Misconception 4: They operate independently of national strategy. The centres are not standalone entities; they are integral to the national cloud and AI strategy required by Article 7. Their activities, funding, and priorities would be aligned with the national objectives for AI adoption, sovereignty, and digital transformation. Ignoring the national strategy when engaging with these centres would mean missing a key component of their mandate and potentially losing access to coordinated support.

Official sources

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This is general information about a draft EU regulation, not legal advice.